#Affordable cities for students in the UK

[the-proeducator-blog]

How to Choose the Best UK City for Your Studies: Key Factors to Consider

Choosing the right city for your studies is as crucial as selecting your university and course. The UK, renowned for its exceptional education system, offers a wide variety of cities, each with its unique vibe, academic strengths, and student life. So, how do you narrow down your options to find the perfect fit?

If you're looking for insights into the Best cities in UK for international students, this guide breaks down the key factors you should consider while making your decision. From academic offerings to cost of living, cultural attractions, and career opportunities, we’ve got you covered!

How to Choose the Best UK City for Your Studies

Picking a city for your studies is more than just finding a place with good universities. Your experience as an international student is shaped by the city’s lifestyle, affordability, and career opportunities. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision.

1. Academic Offerings and University Reputation

Your primary reason for studying in the UK is, of course, education. Therefore, consider:

University Rankings: Research the reputation of universities in the city for your chosen field of study. For example, London is known for institutions like Imperial College and UCL, while Cambridge and Oxford are globally renowned.

Specialized Programs: If your course is niche, look for cities with universities that offer tailored programs. For example, Newcastle is great for engineering, while Leicester excels in healthcare.

Pro Tip: Explore whether the city has multiple universities, as this often means a vibrant student community.

2. Cost of Living

For international students, managing finances is crucial. Evaluate the cost of living in potential cities, which includes:

Accommodation: London is one of the most expensive cities, but options like Nottingham or Coventry offer affordable housing.

Transportation: Check if the city has affordable public transport or is walkable.

Daily Expenses: Consider the cost of food, entertainment, and other essentials.

Affordable Alternatives: Cities like Leicester and Cardiff are budget-friendly, offering lower rents and cost-effective lifestyles.

3. Cultural Attractions and Lifestyle

Your time studying abroad should be enjoyable and culturally enriching. Evaluate cities based on:

History and Culture: Cities like York offer a glimpse into medieval history, while Edinburgh is a hub for arts and festivals.

Social Life: Consider the city’s nightlife, restaurants, and recreational spaces. For example, Newcastle is famous for its lively nightlife, while Glasgow boasts a thriving music scene.

Diversity and Inclusivity: Diverse cities like Leicester and Birmingham offer a more inclusive environment for international students.

Pro Tip: A city with rich cultural attractions not only makes your stay exciting but also helps you bond with fellow students.

4. Career and Job Opportunities

A city with strong career prospects can greatly benefit international students:

Part-Time Jobs: Check whether the city has opportunities for part-time work in retail, hospitality, or on-campus positions.

Internships: Big cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester offer excellent internship programs with leading companies.

Post-Graduation Prospects: Consider cities with industries aligned to your field of study, such as tech in Manchester or finance in London.

5. Accessibility and Connectivity

How easy is it to get around the city and travel to other parts of the UK or the world? Evaluate:

Transport Links: London has excellent public transport, while smaller cities like York are easier to navigate by foot or bike.

Airport Accessibility: If you plan to travel frequently, choose a city with good air connectivity.

6. Community and Safety

As an international student, feeling welcomed and safe is essential. Consider:

Student Community: Cities with a high concentration of students, such as Cambridge or Manchester, often have better support systems.

Safety: Research crime rates and student reviews to ensure the city is safe. Smaller cities like York and Durham are known for their low crime rates.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best UK city for your studies depends on what matters most to you—be it world-class education, affordability, or a rich cultural experience. Whether you’re drawn to the bustling streets of London, the affordability of Leicester, or the charm of York, the UK has something for every student.

Explore more about the Best cities in UK for international students to make the right choice for your academic journey.

[livingmybestfakelife]

Hate It Or Love It

Felix Catton x Reader

Everything was set up for you, new citizenship, new drivers license, and soon enough a new surname, all of it was ready for you to accept, but you weren’t being quick enough to do it, and your fiancé was becoming impatient.

For the past four years you had enjoyed your uni journey, your mother was nervous about you moving overseas, especially for that long. Your father had made you promise to keep in touch often and update them on your studies and to not let yourself forget about where you came from, he knew that Oxford would have a lot of wealthy students, some of who will be bratty and entitled, and though your family was far from being below the poverty line, your dad being a dentist and your mom an art teacher, your parents income combined still didn’t compare to the ones of most of your schoolmates.

Felix made it known from the very beginning that you were someone that was worth being on his radar, you were different than what he would usually be putting effort into, you were American for one, hailing from Yonkers, New York to be specific. He was confused on how nonchalant you were about the world around you, not being gaga about the fancy school and the students that came with it, how even though you weren’t here on a scholarship, your family was still able to afford for you to attend, they invested in your education from the day you were born and you never had to want for anything. As the years went on so did your relationship with Felix and his friend Oliver, the two were thick as thieves and fiercely loyal to their friendship, as wonderful as that was, you wished you would’ve known that it would also be the cause of your despair.

Your beauty was obvious, your personality was immaculate, it was just as easy to make friends and associates in the UK like you always did in the States, and with that came strong jealousy from Felix, the more you made connections the more he felt like you were forgetting about him, it was something he expressed to Ollie many times. And though he was successful at bringing your attention back to him, this time it was different. During your junior year you had met a fellow American student named Deacon Whittaker, he was also from New York, born and raised in Mount Vernon, the city was close to Yonkers and it made you both excited that even when you graduate and move back to America that you wouldn’t be that far away from one another, your home cities less than twenty minutes apart from one another.

Deacon was handsome, charming and very intelligent, the both of you looked to be the movie star looking power couple if you were his girlfriend instead of Felix’s . Your friendship started slow, you liked the idea of taking time to get to know each other and you managed to make it easy, so easy that you forgotten the ones you met when you moved here existed half of the time. You felt some guilt that you missed some calls, cancelled some planned meet ups and only stayed at Saltburn half of that summer, spending the other half in New York with yours and Deacon’s family, it hurt to see you pack your things and leave him, Felix had a lot of plans thought out and Deacon just had to go and ruin them, it was happening one, two, three too many times for his liking, he had you first, hell even Ollie, Venetia and Farleigh didn’t enjoy you forgetting about them, it would all have to end sooner or later.

By the time your senior year finally rolled around he had finally broke, he could no longer keep up the fake smiles and forced handshakes with Deacon, you were his girl, his one true love, the one person he’d give up everything for if it made you happy, now was the perfect time.

You and Deacon were coming back from your weekend in Edinburgh, you spent it there with some mutual friends from Oxford and now you’re ready to settle back into your dorms, but before you could his car unexpectedly got pulled over, after being asked for his license, Deacon asked what was the reason for the stop, he was sure he was following the traffic laws and knew he did anything else wrong, that was when the cop told him to step out of the car, he asked again in confusion what the issue was, that only pissed the officer off and made him open his door his door and practically drag him out.

“Hey! What is the problem? I didn’t do anything!”

“SHUT UP”

That’s when you got out of the car, you haven’t been this afraid in a good while

“Officer please what is the issue? He was being compliant!”

He ignored you and put him in the back of the police vehicle, all of your questions fell on deaf ears to him, he spoke to you as if you were some sort of victim, you didn’t understand where all of this was coming from.

After what felt like ages, a familiar vehicle pulled up beside the both of you, and when the windows were rolled down you saw not one but two people who you couldn’t understand would even be here.

“Felix?….Ollie? What’s going on?”

“Officer Jennings, thank you for your help”

“No problem Mr. Catton”

You rushed over to him “Felix! Please talk to him, he has Deacon in the back of his car in cuffs like a violent criminal, he didn’t do anything and he won’t tell me why he arrested him!”

He let out a heavy exhale and stepped out of the car along with Ollie following behind, he had a woeful expression and reached out to try to bring you into his car but you jerked away.

“Felix, what is going on? Let go of me!”

“What’s going on is that Deacon nicked some very valuable items from Saltburn, over a million pounds worth” Ollie said

“W-what? No no no he didn’t it’s no way”

Officer Jennings walked up behind you “It’s true Ms. YLN, we have strong evidence that while Mr. Whittaker visited Saltburn with you two months ago, he stole some valuable antiquities and heirlooms and attempted to sell them at some auction houses”

You looked back towards Felix “Please Felix, you know that isn’t true, he wouldn’t do this”

“He would if my family says he did”

“W-what?”

It was Ollie’s turn to elaborate some more.

“Come on YN you’re smarter than this”

“Felix, you can’t do this, you know this isn’t right!”

“It’s your choice YN, you know that Felix will always give you some say in your life…what’s it going to be? You end your friendship with Deacon cutting absolutely all ties with him and we all go back to who we once were, or your mate will have the book thrown at him, what’s it going to be?”

You broke down and cried while trying to talk some sense into the both of them, you knew Felix was envious of your connection to Deacon, but you never expected it to go this far, to use his status to ruin an innocent person’s life and reputation, he could be petty, but this was just plain evil.

“Felix….please”

“You heard what Ollie said sweetheart, what’s your decision?”

You looked over to see Deacon with an expression of both anger and grief, he wanted to bust out of the cuffs, jump out of the car and beat Felix Catton to a bloody pulp, but that could only be achieved in his wildest dreams, in reality he was one of many victims who would feel the wrath of Felix’s jealously and entitlement, you were it for him, and he’d be damned if he let anyone interfere with his plans for your future together.

“Okay Felix, alright, it’s over okay, I’m yours” you stand on the tips of your toes to peck his lips to really butter him up, you needed this to work, you couldn’t let your friend’s life to be ruined over this.

“That’s my sweet girl, I knew you’d put me first”

He gave you the sloppiest kiss, making sure it was in eyesight of your dear friend who ended up looking away in anger, once he finally pulled away he out and arm over your shoulder and guided you to the passenger side while Ollie sat in the back seat.

Officer Jennings let Deacon go while Felix slowly drove off, making it obvious that he was rubbing it in that there was nothing he can do to stop this, a tear rolled down your cheek as you made a silent final goodbye to him and the car made a bit of speed up the road and out of the area.

“Don’t be upset YN, we’re just helping you keep your promise to your dad to not forget where you came from” Ollie said behind you, you silently shudder at his voice and continue to look out the window, dreading your journey back with your fiancé and one the best friends you dared to neglect.

[mariacallous]

Oulu is five hours north from Helsinki by train and a good deal colder and darker each winter than the Finnish capital. From November to March its 220,000 residents are lucky to see daylight for a couple of hours a day and temperatures can reach the minus 30s. However, this is not the reason I sense a darkening of the Finnish dream that brought me here six years ago.

In 2018, moving to Finland seemed like a no-brainer. One year earlier I had met my Finnish partner while working away in Oulu. My adopted home of Italy, where I had lived for 10 years, had recently elected a coalition government with the far-right Matteo Salvini as interior minister, while my native UK had voted for Brexit. Given Finland’s status as a beacon of progressive values, I boarded a plane, leaving my lecturing job and friends behind.

Things have gone well. My partner and I both have stable teaching contracts, me at a university where my mostly Finnish colleagues are on the whole friendlier than the taciturn cliche that persists of Finns (and which stands in puzzling contradiction to their status as the world’s happiest people).

Notwithstanding this, I feel a sense of unease as Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo’s rightwing coalition government has set about slashing welfare and capping public sector pay. Even on two teachers’ salaries my partner and I have felt the sting of inflation as goods have increased by 20% in three years. With beer now costing €8 or more in a city centre pub, going out becomes an ever rarer expense.

Those worse off than us face food scarcity. A survey conducted by the National Institute for Health and Welfare found 25% of students struggling to afford food, while reductions in housing benefit mean tenants are being forced to move or absorb the shortfall in rent payments. There are concerns that many unemployed young people could become homeless.

Healthcare is faring little better. Finland’s two-tier system means that while civil servants and local government employees (including teachers) paradoxically enjoy private health cover, many other people face long waiting lists. Not having dental cover on my university’s plan, I called for a public dental appointment in April. I was put on callback and received a text message stating I’d be contacted when the waiting list reopened. Six months later, I am still waiting. A few years ago I could expect to wait two months at most.

The current government, formed by Orpo’s National Coalition party (NCP) last year in coalition with the far-right Finns party, the Swedish People’s party of Finland and the Christian Democrats, has been described as “the most rightwing” Finland has ever seen – a position it appears to relish.

Deputy prime minister and finance minister Riikka Purra – the Finns’ party leader – has been linked to racist and sometimes violent comments made online back in 2008. The party’s xenophobia is clearly influencing policymaking and affecting migrants. As a foreigner, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling a certain chill as anti-immigrant rhetoric ramps up.

A survey by the organisation Specialists in Finland last year found that most highly qualified workers would consider leaving Finland if the government’s planned tightening of visa requirements went ahead (that proposal, which extended residence time required for Finnish citizenship from four to as many as eight years has now become law). Luckily, I am a permanent resident under the Brexit agreement.

With the coalition intent on ending Finland’s long history of welfarism in just one term, there is a risk (and hope among progressives) that it may go too far, inviting a backlash. We arguably saw signs of this in the European election in the summer, when Li Andersson won the highest number of votes for an EU election candidate in Finland. Andersson, who was education minister in Sanna Marin’s former centre-left coalition government (which lost to the NCP in April 2023), ran on a progressive red-green ticket of increased wealth equality and measures to tackle the climate crisis. She has also been critical of emergency laws blocking asylum seekers from crossing Finland’s eastern border, arguing that it contravenes human rights obligations.

Andersson’s party, the Left Alliance, chose a new leader this month, the charismatic feminist author Minja Koskela, who was elected to Helsinki’s council in 2021 after a period as secretary of the Feminist party, and as a member of parliament in 2023. Koskela argues: “People are widely frustrated with the government’s discriminatory policy and cuts to culture, social and health services, education and people’s livelihood. It is possible to turn this frustration into action.” (Full disclosure: I’m a member of the party and have helped coordinate its local approach to immigrants.)

It remains to be seen if she can build on Andersson’s EU success. Although the popular media-savvy figure appears to relish the challenge of turning the party into an election winner, Koskela faces a huge challenge. The party struggles to poll at more than 10% nationally, aside from a brief high of 11% in July. A place in government is nonetheless possible. But Marin’s Social Democratic party (SDP) of Finland (now led by Antti Lindtman), has topped the national opinion polls 12 out of 14 times since April 2023.

Meanwhile, the Finns party is polling at 16%, down from the 20.1% vote they gained in the election. These figures point to one thing: another possible SDP-led coalition government in the next parliament by the summer of 2027. This would probably include the Left Alliance and the Green League, among others. And such a coalition would aim to undo a lot of the damage done by the right.

But until then, there will be more damage to come. So while there is clearly hope for an end in sight to the country’s political darkness three years hence, this will bring little solace now to poor people, migrants, and the squeezed middle class as the long Finnish winter closes in.

[sideprince]

I would personally love to read your 30 page dissertation on privilege, bigotry, and misplaced abuse trauma 🙏

Haha, I haven't actually written it but challenge accepted! This ask is referring to a comment on this post, for reference. It goes without saying, as will become apparent in this post, that I condemn JK Rowling's bigotry and don't support her in any way. As always, TERFs will be blocked on sight so DBI (don't bother interacting).

OK, so.

A bit about Rowling

I'm going to try my best not to do any armchair diagnosing, and to stick with existing statements Rowling has made about her abuse and stance on feminism. A lot of Rowling's current bigotry and biases - her assertion of the gender binary in ways that uphold patriarchal power structures, her (upper?) middle class privilege blinders - are compounded by her abuse trauma in ways that perpetuate abusive behavior, but were also always present to some degree and made apparent in her approach to a number of characters in Harry Potter. This came up in a post about SWM and the sexual assault that occurs, and my reading of it as having been written to illustrate that Snape was unpopular in school, instead of as a condemnation of James and Sirius as bullies. I'm not the first to point out that Rowling wrote Snape unkindly, and she also speaks of him without sympathy and with judgment in interviews. This reveals a lot more problematic aspects of her thinking than it appears to at first glance, not to mention that this approach to writing a character is something I think is counterproductive and ultimately detrimental to the text.

Rowling grew up middle class, had an unhappy adolescence, and a strained relationship with her father. She went to the University of Exeter, which is basically where upper class kids who couldn't get into Oxford or Cambridge go, and where she says she did little schoolwork and spent a year studying abroad in Paris. This implies a fairly comfortable upbringing, especially as most students who are struggling financially are unable to afford doing a study abroad year (all of this information is on her wikipedia page, btw). She got married in a vulnerable state - having moved to Portugal after her mother's death and being laid off from her job - to an abusive man named Jorge Arantes. After she eventually left him, she claimed to have been very poor, moving to Edinburgh as a single mother.

Her description of poverty, however, involved writing at a cafe every day in Edinburgh, an expensive choice in an expensive city. Anyone on the dole (welfare) in the 90s wouldn't have been able to do that, nor someone living paycheck to paycheck and counting pennies. This is the idea of poverty of someone who's used to a solidly (upper???) middle class lifestyle (I spent time in Edinburgh during college and despite having worked alongside classes I could barely afford more than a coffee and maybe a biscuit at the local cafe if I went daily). Being a single mother is hard no matter what, acknowledment to that, but the press - and I think Rowling herself - played up the narrative of the poor, struggling mother living hand to mouth to romanticize her story. Writing at cafes sounds like the idea of poverty of someone who has a lot of privilege, but is a luxury to someone living in actual poverty, especially in England in the years after Thatcher.

There's a phenomenon known as "white tears" that anyone who's studied racism in the U.S. will be familiar with, of white women exploiting their social status positing themselves as vulnerable, ill fated victims in order to gain sympathy. There's a similar phenomenon in the UK, that I think Rowling turned to her advantage with her own narrative, leaning on her victimhood as a domestic abuse survivor and exaggerating her poverty in Edinburgh in order to build a sympathetic brand for herself. This served her as the author of a children's book series, and as the HP series was released, she ensured there were press events where she read to children, and was thus constantly perceived by the public through photos of her as the quintessential matriarch to young readers, the heroic mother and survivor who is perpetually surrounded by loving children looking up at her with admiration.

This became problematic when she began to weaponize this status she had built and turn it against trans people in order to perpetuate her personal bigotry. I can't say how much of this was deliberate and calculated, and how much of it was fed by radicalization and the psychological effects of fame such as entitlement and the inability to cope with differing opinions from her own. I also can't say how much of this has been a mis-directed projection of unprocessed abuse trauma, which can often perpetuate a cycle of abuse through victims who enact it on others because it's what they've learned to expect from the world and is therefore also the primary way they know how to interact with others (or rather that abuse victims struggle to regulate their emotions in healthy and constructive ways and often end up doing so in destructive - or even self-destructive - ones). What I can say is that there's a significance in her choice to publicly pursue a personal bias in the ways she has, and that she's consistently relied on her White Tears to dig her heels in, in the face of opposing viewpoints.

How is all this reflected in the HP books? I'll do my best to keep this reasonably brief.

Misplaced abuse trauma

The most obvious indications of unprocessed abuse trauma are the myriad examples of excused and under-rug-swept abusive behaviors throughout the books. To understand these we must first understand how abuse is perceived from the victim's perspective - and this can be difficult, because abuse is notoriously (and insidiously) difficult to understand the dynamics of if you haven't experienced it firsthand. It can be difficult to understand even if you have experienced it, and a lot of the work therapists do with abuse survivors is centered around this kind of processing.

All people struggle to see someone they love in a bad light, or as doing things that only "bad people" would do, and abuse victims are no exception. Abusive behavior gets excused because the person perpetuating it is framed by the victim as being justified in their actions (often by blaming themselves) or because they're perceived as a good person so they couldn't possibly do harm. It's a common misconception that abusers are bad, evil people - most of the time they're well liked people with a lot of friends, who are also emotionally damaged and have unhealthy tendencies to exert control over others in moments of emotional dysregulation. These moments usually happen behind closed doors, because even the abuser tends to feel ashamed of themselves when they happen (and obviously that doesn't excuse or justify their behavior in any way).

Abusers still love their children/partners/etc. and also have warm, loving moments where they bond with their victims. There's just also a power dynamic in which these moments primarily happen when it suits the abuser. Victims develop a mindset in which these moments are focused on and used to try to fill the painful gaps left by the bad moments, the ones where they're hurt emotionally or physically. Our brains rely on denial and selective memory to deal with trauma, so abusive behavior gets excused, downplayed, or ignored by being unprocessed and unaddressed. Until this trauma is processed in a healthy way and the survivor learns how to identify and deal with their experiences, they'll keep repeating and projecting them. How the trauma is processed affects not only the victim, but how they're perceived - if they show signs of trauma in unsympathetic ways that make others uncomfortable and ask them to have patience and empathy, they're a "bad victim." If they bear their trauma with grace and show minimal signs of it and don't make anyone uncomfortable, they're a "good victim." (Many abusers are, in fact, good victims outwardly, and bad victims in their home lives - which, again, doesn't justify or excuse their actions, but it does give an insight into how abuse trauma manifests.)

The tendency to downplay, excuse, or ignore abusive behavior shows up again and again throught the HP books. In PoA Sirius breaks Ron's leg in his determination to get Pettigrew - who's in Ron's pocket - into the Shrieking Shack. It's actually quite a violent moment, Sirius yanking Ron with force because his leg being stuck under a branch is keeping Sirius from being able to drag him into the tunnel. But once Harry realizes Sirius is not a mass murderer and accepts him as his godfather, there's no addressing of this casual violence. Sirius doesn't apologize to Ron, and it's Lupin who puts his leg in a splint* (never mind that Ron is then tied to Lupin who hasn't taken his potion at the full moon and this endangers Ron's life directly). The point here isn't Sirius' character, but how the narrative treats his actions - and Ron.

*Even though Sirius has his wand on him too, which is never really explained? How did he get his wand back? He wouldn't have been allowed it in Azkaban, so where did it come from? But I digress. That's a question for another post.

As soon as Sirius takes on the mantle of being Harry's godfather, his carelessness, violence, and the damage he caused are forgiven - much like how abuse victims will explain away their abusers' actions and minimize them. Ron doesn't show any signs of trauma after this incident, or any wariness of Sirius, which is unrealistic and uncharacteristic, but fits in with Rowling's writing style when you consider her projected abuse trauma and the mindset she's likely to be writing from as a result. Sirius does nothing to assure Ron that he won't hurt him again in the future. In fact, all he says to him is indirectly, in a letter to Harry:

“I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it’s my fault he no longer has a rat.”

-Prisoner of Azkaban, Ch. 22

He doesn't acknowledge the harm he inflicted, nor does he apologize for his actions. Instead he gifts Ron an owl he found (which, off topic, is objectively funny - Sirius found an owl and just said "keep it I guess"). He clarifies this owl is meant to replace his pet who turned out to be a murderous traitor in disguise, but makes no mention of wanting to earn back trust. Again, this isn't about Sirius as a character, who's deliberately written with these flaws. My point is to highlight the ways that other characters react to him and how those behaviors seem to echo the reactions of an abuse victim to abusive situations, and the blinders they require for survival. Kind of like how we never see Ron confront the reality that he spent several years sharing his food, bed, and life with a 30 year old man in rat form. Egregious breaches of trust and safety are sidestepped silently, accepted, and ignored.

Again and again physical and verbal violence is addressed minimally or not at all in Harry Potter. Lupin has his turn when he argues with Harry in Deathly Hallows. Harry tells him to go home to his son instead of abandoning him, but Lupin is agitated and resistant to the idea, his behavior signifying that his trauma may be triggered.

‘I’d never have believed this,’ Harry said. ‘The man who taught me to fight Dementors - a coward.’ Lupin drew his wand so fast that Harry had barely reached for his own; there was a loud bang and he felt himself flying backwards as if punched; as he slammed into the kitchen wall and slid to the floor, he glimpsed the tail of Lupin’s cloak disappearing round the door. -Deathly Hallows, Ch. 11

Lupin never apologizes or acknowledges he was wrong to do this, and the closest he gets to it is a passive aggressive statement on the radio that he has no way of knowing was actually heard by Harry:

‘And what would you say to Harry if you knew he was listening, Romulus?’ ‘I’d tell him we’re all with him in spirit,’ said Lupin, then hesitated slightly. ‘And I’d tell him to follow his instincts, which are good and nearly always right.’

Deathly Hallows, Ch. 22

Again, the point here isn't to discuss Lupin's character, but that the author has chosen to skim over his violence and continue to write him as heroic without him having to take responsibility for his actions. We're meant to empathize with his trauma and continue to see him as a sort of parental figure, but there's no exploration or acknowledgment of how it might affect Harry that the last remaining friend of his father's, his once favorite teacher, enacted violence on him the second Harry challenged him, and how this might have triggered Harry's own abuse trauma after enduring years of violence at the Dursleys. There's merely a dramatic moment that results in assault, that is then skirted past, unaddressed, and the narratives simply moves on. It feels like the literary equivalent of a fighting couple where one partner hits the other, and instead of apologizing they just go back to business as usual once they've calmed down; the argument is never resolved, just swept under the rug with all the others ones like it.

Harry, meanwhile, is an abuse victim who bears no mark of it. The Dursleys abuse him emotionally as a matter of course, starve him on numerous occasions, there are clear implications that Vernon is physically violent with him, as is Dudley, to the point where Harry is socially isolated because Dudley's gang intimidates anyone who might want to be his friend. This also prevents any outsiders from getting close enough to Harry to recognize the abuse and calling CPS on the Dursleys. They aren't taken to task by anyone, unless you count Dumbledore's passive aggressive hint to them about keeping Harry in a cupboard, or the threat from the Order that's given at the end of the OoTP:

‘We thought we’d just have a few words with you about Harry,’ said Mr Weasley, still smiling. ‘Yeah,’ growled Moody. ‘About how he’s treated when he’s at your place.’ Uncle Vernon’s moustache seemed to bristle with indignation. Possibly because the bowler hat gave him the entirely mistaken impression that he was dealing with a kindred spirit, he addressed himself to Moody. ‘I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house -‘ ‘I expect what you’re not aware of would fill several books, Dursley,’ growled Moody. ‘Anyway, that’s not the point,’ interjected Tonks, whose pink hair seemed to offend Aunt Petunia more than all the rest put together, for she closed her eyes rather than look at her. ‘The point is, if we find out you’ve been horrible to Harry -‘ ‘- And make no mistake, we’ll hear about it,’ added Lupin pleasantly. ‘Yes,’ said Mr Weasley, ‘even if you won’t let Harry use the fellytone -‘ ‘Telephone,’ whispered Hermione. ‘- Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter’s been mistreated in any way, you’ll have us to answer to,’ said Moody. Uncle Vernon swelled ominously. His sense of outrage seemed to outweigh even his fear of this bunch of oddballs. ‘Are you threatening me, sir?’ he said, so loudly that passers-by actually turned to stare. ‘Yes, I am,’ said Mad-Eye, who seemed rather pleased that Uncle Vernon had grasped this fact so quickly.’

-Order of the Phoenix, Ch. 38

Of course, this doesn't happen until Harry is almost 16 and only a year away from getting out of Privet Drive anyway. Yet Harry has no anxiety, no panic attacks, no social anxiety, and shows no triggered behavior. Even after Cedric dies he has very limited PTSD symptoms. The only time he acts out is in OoTP, and his behavior is explained away by the realization that Voldemort has been sharing his mind, and so his short fuse and "bad victim" behavior is attributed to a kind of possession, and not his own psyche. Harry is the fantasy of an abuse victim - the sympathetic orphan who bears no scars of his trauma. He's patient, bears his abuse with grace, and if anything he responds to it with cleverness and snark that endears the reader to him. He's a "good victim," but almost goes beyond that: Harry is almost a kind of projected fantasy of an abuse victim who wishes they could live their life and be themselves without the inherent trauma and its effects, even while continuing to be traumatized.

It's a recurring theme with a lot of characters that violence and emotional abuse/manipulation is excused and unresolved as a matter of course. Harry is shocked when he sees his dad and Sirius assault Snape in SWM, but he goes back to putting his father on a pedestal quickly, and without processing his feelings, while his empathy for Snape is short lived. Hagrid spends most of OoTP getting violently assaulted by Grawp but he doesn't mind it because he loves his brother, who's just big and stupid and can't help it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Hagrid also has a dysfunctional relationship with Harry and his friends, who he endangers on numerous occasions, and who have to take care of him when he's drunk or unable to manage his emotions and makes bad choices, despite being children. It's an imbalanced relationship in which Harry is often unsafe and required to do the emotional labor of an adult. Dumbledore exploits Harry's entire existence, as well as Snape's, but he only apologizes to one of them and even then just barely.

The list goes on an on, and the dynamic is always the same: the character perpetuating the violence is alleviated from blame or responsibility by the narrative overlooking their faults and skimming over their damaging actions. It's also worth noting that many of the characters who perpetuate abuse are parental figures to the protagonist (Sirius, Lupin, James, Dumbledore, Hagrid, the Dursleys), because it's hard not to feel like there's some degree of personal projection going on here on the author's part. The way the writing justifies and avoids addressing the dysfunction and abuse in these relationships is almost like a parallel for the battered partner/child who says it was their fault for saying or doing the wrong thing and they should know better and the abuser doesn't really mean it, they're very sensitive and can be so loving and, and, and.

SWM is interesting in that it seems to be the pinnacle of how Rowling sees Snape and characters like James and Sirius. Even in The Prince's Tale we barely see why Snape and Lily were "best friends," not just Cokeworth buddies, because as an author she viewed Snape's role as utilitarian to the story but without sympathy for him. SWM was about establishing that Snape was a loser; feeling sorry for him was incidental, and more about Harry's own character development, which ultimately doesn't even follow that thread through. James and Sirius weren't written in that scene to be exposed as abusive bullies, but to be shown as the cool kids in a British grammar school, the handsome privileged boys at the top of the social ladder.

What's fascinating about Rowling's writing of Snape is that she seems to project a lot of her own abuse trauma onto him but has continuously expressed a clear dislike of him both in her approach to writing him and in interviews. The text alludes to his difficult childhood and abusive father, which Rowling has confirmed in interviews, and through the Wizarding World website where it's stated that Snape's father "didn't hold back when it came to the whip" (and while Wizarding World and Pottermore aren't always reliable sources for canon material, they do have a vetting process so if something is stated as fact it tends to be canon, as opposed to content that's qualified by statements like "possibly" or "might be" etc. which denote them as unverified theories). Snape also displays triggered behavior in situations that evoke his trauma, such as in the Shrieking Shack in PoA and when Harry tries to hit him with a Levicorpus in HBP. All this to say, Snape is a character who is written as having survived abuse at home, assault at school, and who bears clear markers of trauma.

With all this in mind, he was written unkindly. I don't necessarily mean how he's consistently described as ugly and dark in ways that recall prejudiced gothic tropes of the demon lover, or the ways the reader is meant to see him through the biased lens of Harry, whose eyes we see the story through. Snape was written with no empathy, and as someone who is completely alone in the world. Even Dumbledore, the person whose trust he works to gain, and who he trusts, betrays and exploits him mortally. When Harry sees Snape's memories at the end of DH, there's nothing in there that shows he was ever lovable, or his vulnerability and path to radicalization, or that Lily loved him as the best friend she said he was to her. Even when he's sacrificed his life and it's revealed to the reader that he's done so, and done it in the service of love - the central theme of the HP books - he's not granted the grace of being shown as having any redeeming qualities, except that he loved Lily deeply enough to dedicate his life to protecting her son (and grew to believe in Dumbledore's cause in the process), but this love is shown only through regret after her death, not through any expression of it during their friendship.

The opposite of Harry as the "good victim," Snape is the "bad victim," the abuse survivor who is defensive, unfriendly, unkind, and reflects a socialization that absorbed all he was taught through mistreatment. Ultimately, the good vicitim is good because their trauma doesn't burden others with its visibility, and Snape is the bad victim because his trauma asks patience and understanding of others while he struggles to show kindness and grace. He runs to help when he hears a scream upstairs, he tells Dumbledore "only those I could not save," but he's outwardly unkind and at times downright hostile, which means the reader has to put in critical thought and analyze the text before being able to extend him sympathy. In short, he takes work, which makes him a bad victim. This is also why so much of the larger fandom harbors a vitriolic hatred for him and feels absolved of having to put that work in.

And while there's a lesson in there that even the surliest of people can turn out to be brave and have an immeasurable capacity for love, the narrative still shows no interest, even in his deepest relationship, in Snape as a person who his best friend had affection for beyond being her only source of information about Hogwarts, or as someone Dumbledore saw more in than a clever and gifted wizard who could serve his cause. There's no curiosity in the writing when it comes to Snape, no kindness toward him, and Rowling has shown time and again that she still judges him.

What's interesting about this is that Snape is also the character who the most trauma and abuse seems to be heaped on, despite Harry's journey, and all of these aspects of him seem to be unaddressed, and if they're ever touched it has no real impact or affect on the characters or the narrative. It's almost like Rowling projected her worst trauma onto him and then resented him for representing her experiences. I would posit that perhaps what she really dislikes about Snape is that he's a representation of her own unprocessed trauma, of the ugly parts of trauma that are messy and painful, but I feel that's getting a bit too close to armchair psychoanalyzing so I'll leave that thought there and let you come to your own conclusions.

Privilege

The structure of the world in which Harry Potter exists relies on privilege. Wizards are a privileged group, singled out by their genetic advantage which gives them the ability to make their lives easier, and which most of them feel entitled about. They live in secret to protect themselves from having to use these abilities to help muggles, and because muggles would likely exploit them - of course most wizards also look down on muggles with condescension for their lack of magic (and ultimately we're talking about a bunch of Brits, so exploiting others and condescension is baked into the culture anyway). Added to this baseline social structure that is built on wizarding privilege is the character of Harry, who doesn't just learn that he's part of this privileged group, but that he's singled out as special among them. As soon as he's brought into the magical world, he's shown his Gringotts vault which is full of gold, so he also enjoys the privilege of wealth as soon as he learns he's doubly special.

There's yet another layer, which is the class dynamics within the wizarding world, which hinge on inherited privilege, ie. the privilege that comes with being pureblood or half-blood vs. being muggleborn. As Rowling works through this aspect of world building, she's consistently focused on the variety of ways her protagonist enjoys privilege. Moreover, in a series where the world-building is often half-baked and not thought through, an incredible amount of the work she did do is focused around establishing class dynamics and approaching them with a focus on privilege. This feels inherently British in some ways, though it does also challenge class systems to some degree.

Except that the class system remains intact at the end of the series. Voldemort is defeated as a villain, but his ideas of blood status aren't. The evil Harry fights against is a specific antagonist, not his ideas, and not the class dynamics that inform the variety of privileges he himself enjoys as a pureblood wizard with generational wealth. House elves aren't liberated, and are ultimately not only content to remain slaves, but fight alongside wizards and preserve the system that oppresses them. That itself is a signifier of Rowling's unchecked privilege: that she takes a local myth - house elves - in which magical creatures help with housework in exchange for milk/some kind of payment, co-opts this myth for her story and changes the terms of these creatures to be a deeply unethical one where they're neither working voluntarily nor paid but are instead enslaved. Most importantly, she posits that most of them are happy to be enslaved - and what reeks of privilege more than the idea that slaves enjoy their situation? It's a narrative that serves the enslaver and disenfranchises the enslaved even further.

Rowling's own class privilege is also reflected in how she writes poverty. For example, the Weasleys are consistently described as poor, but they actually seem to be doing alright. They have a lot of children, so most of their annual expenses like school supplies are secondhand, but that's pretty normal in a lot of families, even middle class ones. Mrs. Weasley is a stay at home mom who could be working if she wanted to, but in Rowling's determination to write Molly as quintessentially matriarchal, she overlooked this fact, the result being that the Weasleys seem to have a tight budget but don't seem to actually be poor. They own a large home and land around it, live comfortably as a single income household, and it's even mentioned in DH that of the trio it was Ron who struggled the most with scrounging for food when on the run, because he'd spent his whole life enjoying delicious, consistent, filling meals at home, not just at school.

Harry, meanwhile, is noted as thinking that he would happily give the Weasleys all the gold in his Gringotts vault, but knows they'll never accept it - and he leaves it at that. It's not until he gives his TriWizard winnings to Fred and George at the end of GoF that he tells them to get Ron new dress robes. Before that, he doesn't use any opportunity to give the Weasleys any gifts - in fact, while we see Harry give Ron and Hermione thoughtful Christmas gifts in the later books, there's no allusion to him giving them birthday gifts like they give him, or of him giving Molly or Arthur Christmas gifts despite always receiving them, including a hand-made family jumper. Despite growing up with so little, Harry is written as feeling an understandable excitement at receiving gifts, but it doesn't occur to him to give back - or rather it doesn't occur to Rowling, as the author, that a boy who comes from having nothing, who now has a vault full of gold, would think of using it to make others happy as they've made him. Despite her writing Harry's entire character arc to hinge on his willingness to sacrifice himself, this aspect of him gets overlooked when it comes to making the best of his privilege in his interpersonal relationships by thinking of others. Unsurprising once you consider that she claimed that writing in cafes was an experience of poverty after having studied at Exeter, and how her own privilege might inform how she approaches her characters and their choices (or lack thereof).

The subject of poverty in HP is laced with unconscious bias. The Weasleys are described as poor but have all they need, own land, and have the safety net of a wealthy family to fall back on. Like with Harry's character, there is, essentially, a moralism reflected in their comfort - they're good people, therefore they are comfortable, just as Harry is a good person, therefore wealth is bestowed on him that he didn't earn. In contrast to this is Snape, who grew up in a slum in an abusive home (and while poverty doesn't guarantee abuse, it's often traumatic and trauma inhibits emotional regulation which can lead to abuse). He bears the physical signs of poverty, such as poor hygiene and poor health (yellowed teeth, pallid skin), is unlikeable, lonely, and doomed by the narrative. Snape, while being described with these markers, is judged negatively and harshly both by Harry and James in their own times, as well as by the author herself who, despite having said that he's heroic and morally grey, has also said that Snape is a "deeply horrible person."

Just as Harry's virtue is signalled through his inherited wealth, Snape's markers of poverty establish him first as a foil in PS, then as an antagonist for the rest of the series. Each time Snape acts antagonistically, he's described with the physical traits that are meant to make the reader judge him - his teeth, greasy hair/face, pallid skin - without any seeming awareness that these are markers of class and his poverty (hygiene would have been a weekly, not daily practice growing up in a Midlands slum in the 60s, not to mention limited access to dental care). It's this lack of awareness that shows Rowling's own unaddressed privilege, and reeks of the well-cared-for middle class child who ostracizes the kid on the playground who wears visibly secondhand clothes, doesn't have the cool new toy, brings a "yucky" lunch instead of buying it in the cafeteria, etc. (much like how James and Sirius ostracize Snape).

It's also unnecessary for Harry's virtue to be signalled through his inherited wealth the way it is (ie. that his being special is emphasized by his access to a vault full of gold, or that this is metaphorically a reward for being a good person in a very Cinderella story kind of way). We learn in HBP (through Dumbledore's memory of first meeting Tom Riddle) that Hogwarts has a fund for students who can't afford supplies, and as a orphan hero it would have been more compelling for Harry to rely on this fund and add "charity student" to the list of things that set him apart from his peers and challenge him. Instead, Rowling goes out of her way to justify writing Harry with middle class privilege, perhaps because she doesn't really know how to write a character living with the realities of being in a lower socioeconomic class. It can't even be argued that Harry's Gringott's vault is a plot device to enable him to go to school, because there's a system in place for students in his position that could easily have sidestepped it. Speaking of being unable to write characters living in actual poverty: this also shows that the Weasleys aren't really poor, because we see them go to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies each year, instead of relying on the Hogwarts fund. This reiterates, again, that the Weasleys aren't really poor, they're more likely lower middle class, and that their supposed poverty is more about virtue signalling, but so is their comfort despite how poor they're meant to be. This profound lack of understanding of what it means to truly be poor, and the judgment with which the only character who experiences true, abject poverty is written with, reflect the author's own privilege and lack of experience outside the sphere of the middle class.

Bigotry

What's interesting about Rowling's idea of bigotry as seen through her choices writing HP is that she shows both a profound lack of understanding of systemic racism and that she has pretty strong biases of her own that are rooted in bigotry. The class system she writes wizards as having is based in a parallel of racism, but when the stakes get raised it stays pretty two dimensional and there's no indication that Rowling did any research into the social and political histories the Death Eaters and Voldemort are meant to allude to.

If I'm honest this subject could be its own separate post, but briefly: Rowling seems to have been writing a parallel for fascism, but in the process doesn't appear to have researched it. While the fascist - Voldemort - surreptitiously sows chaos and mistrust, the propaganda machine is established by the legitimate government he eventually overthrows (which is intended to be democratic, although we don't much see it in practice - it certainly doesn't seem to be a representative democracy, in any case). Although we see conflicts between students, they're very clear cut and lack nuance: there's no confusion or moralism. Most crucially, there's no real reason to exploit or oppress the targeted minority group, other than bigotry: wizards don't have that much to gain from oppressing or killing muggles, because they're outnumbered, and the effort of it outweighs the benefits. For every fascist dictator's bigotry there's a root of exploitation, whether its seizing wealth, exploitation for labor, or both. Rowling clearly doesn't fully understand the parallel she's writing, doesn't understand politics or political systems nearly as well as someone whose story centers their importance should, and hasn't done her research.

And while it seems noble that she nevertheless wrote a protagonist fighting against bigotry, she also displays a fair bit of it herself. There are the obvious issues, like how tokenized and unresearched her minority characters are, such as Cho Chang, the Patil twins, or even Anthony Goldstein, not to mention that Nagini's backstory of an Asian woman enslaved as a pet by a British man is a whole other mess of internalized biases, and that's the more generous interpretation. Then there are the anti-semitic tropes that the Gringotts goblins are steeped in, from their hooked noises and double-crossing to their fixation on money. And, of course, there's Seamus Finnigan, the Irish kid whose penchant for explosions is hard not to read as a deliberate allusion to the IRA.

Rowling also seems to be fatphobic, with a narrow view of femininity. As with Snape, she often uses physical descriptors to denote whether or not a character is sympathetic.

“Uncle Vernon was large and neckless, with an enormous black moustache; Aunt Petunia was horse-faced and bony; Dudley was blond, pink and porky.”

-Chamber of Secrets, Ch. 1

Vernon and Dudley Dursley, both males, are described as fat, almost comically. A couple of books later, Dudley will be described as having:

“finally achieved what he’d been threatening to do since the age of three, and become wider than he was tall.”

-Goblet of Fire, Ch. 3

This is physically impossible, of course, but Dudley is described as having three main traits: being fat, being a bully, and being stupid, the first always preceding any of the latter descriptors.

Aunt Petunia, on the other hand, is described as very skinny - she's an antagonist (or an aunt-agonist, if you will), and so her "bony" frame and "horse-face" indicates that she is not feminine, a signal that she's antagonistic and not maternal. Conversely, Vernon's sister Marge, a woman who is so un-maternal as to not even have children, is described as masculine:

“She was very like Uncle Vernon; large, beefy and purple-faced, she even had a moustache, though not as bushy as his.”

-Prisoner of Azkaban, Ch. 2

Malfoy's cronies Crabbe and Goyle are similarly described as big and stupid, and it's worth noting that there's a consistency in Rowling's fatphobia being primarily directed at overweight men, specifically because it reveals a lot about her attachment to gender norms that Aunt Marge is the only woman described as large (did Rowling get inspired by Pee-Wee's Big Adventure? Unclear). She's also unmarried and childless, ie. hasn't fulfilled society's expectations of a woman, breeds dogs in the country, and is the only woman described as having explicitly masculine features including a moustache and looking strikingly similar to her brother. The more matriarchal a woman is in Harry Potter, the more kindly the narrative looks on her, and the less so she is, the more antagonistic she is.

Because the women in Harry Potter are either virtuous mothers or wicked stepmothers - or rather just wicked, with their childlessness standing in for the trope of stepmotherhood because these books are set in modern times, after all. Aunt Petunia, Aunt Marge, Bellatrix Lestrange, Rita Skeeter, and Dolores Umbridge are all either antagonists or outright villainous characters, none of whom are maternal and only one of whom has a child at all - and there's special emphasis put on Petunia's failure as a parent when Dumbledore points it out overtly. In contrast, Molly Weasley and Tonks are sympathetic women who are mothers - or rather, Molly is profoundly maternal and Tonks becomes a mother towards the end of the series and dies heroically. Kind of like the angelic mother figure on a pedestal that is Harry's own self-sacrificing mother, Lily. Even Narcissa Malfoy is redeemed because despite being an antagonist, she's first and foremost a mother concerned for her son's safety (she's also the only person we see in Voldemort's circle who isn't branded with the Dark Mark, and the lack thereof is a sort of virtue signal unto itself). There's a clear bias against women who aren't mothers/are bad mothers, and in favor of women who are mothers and exhibit maternal behavior.

In Harry's generation we see a similar bias in that there are girls who are sympathetic and others who aren't. Hermione and Ginny are sympathetic, in a very "not like other girls" kind of way. They're not emotional, most of their friends are boys, and they eschew femininity except for rare occasions like the Yule Ball. It's mentioned especially that when Harry breaks up with Ginny, she's unsentimental enough not to cry because she grew up with older brothers, and that this is a positive trait. Conversely, characters like Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil are silly and flighty, unconcerned with anything except Divination and boys, with Lavender fawning over Ron in overly feminine ways that become a caricature of a misogynistic depiction of a teenage girl. When she does eventually die heroically in the Battle of Hogwarts, it's mentioned only in passing. Fleur Delacour is vain and haughty, comes in last in the TriWizard tournament, and is an un-virtuous flirt who goes off into the rose bushes with her Yule Ball date and makes eyes at Bill Weasley. It's only after she gets married that she becomes more sympathetic (and while yes, she earns respect before then for not loving Bill less after he's attacked by Greyback, it really isn't until after their wedding that the trio and Ginny stop judging her). She also becomes less relevant to the story, with little to contribute when the trio stay at Shell Cottage.

In short, Rowling perpetuates the sexist trope of representing women as angels or villains (and at times there's a sense that if the target demographic weren't children, she would outright make it the angels/whores trope instead, as is evidenced - among other things - by the reveal in Cursed Child that Bellatrix had an extra marital affair with Voldemort Which I still don't buy. Voldemort would never have allowed himself to engage in something that required any vulnerability from him, like sex, but I digress). What Rowling also perpetuates is a Thatcherian idea of feminism, in which female empowerment boils down to the emulation and adoption of the patriarchal power structure. It doesn't seek to overthrow the patriarchy, but instead to become it. It doesn't seek to dismantle a sexist social system, it just resents being on the side of the oppressed and wants, instead, to be the oppressor. There was an interesting post recently that broke down female representation in HP through the use of the color pink that really hit the nail on the head of how traditional femininity is looked down on by the narrative, and how female empowerment is equated with embracing traditionally masculine traits (the irony of this kind of feminism and how its entrenchment of patriarchal value systems inherently requires participants to emulate the kind of gender bending that it condemns trans people for is mind bogglingly hypocritical, frankly).

This, of course, feeds directly into Rowling's current pet bigotry: her transphobia. Because transphobia relies on and reinforces the patriarchy, by upholding traditional gender roles and punishing anyone who deviates from them. It also posits women as helpless victims of the masculine violence that men can't help but enact because it's supposedly in their nature. Of course, all of this is gender essentialist nonsense. It also achieves the goal of Thatcherist feminism without acknowledging that it does so: in this ideology, women see themselves as oppressed, but simultaneously leverage their oppression - through white tears - in order to oppress others. Because while they continue to buy into patriarchal social structures, their only option is to fight to get as close to the top as possible, and to step on others to maintain their position. And that requires bigotry. Once you've accepted the gender essentialist nonsense and begun to actively entrench yourself in misogynistic perspectives that reinforce the patriarchy, you've bought into the bigotry that oppresses you, and that's a gateway to all the other kinds of bigotry you have to buy into in order to convince yourself of the validity of your actions when all common sense, logic, and basic ethics are telling you otherwise (which is also why TERFism is often a pipeline to neo-naziism and requires radicalization).

The groundwork for this was already laid in Rowling's value system even before she was radicalized as a TERF. We can see in the way SWM was written that she already lacked empathy for male victims of patriarchal violence. Snape is written as feminine-coded, and given James' characterization as a handsome jock whose main actions in the narrative are that he died to protect his wife and child and that he assaulted another student to attract the attention of the girl he likes, I think there's a reasonable reading of SWM as an enforcement of patriarchal norms and gender conformity. The point of that scene was to show the reader that James was at the top of the social hierarchy and Snape was at the bottom, specifically in a way that represents social dynamics in a British grammar school setting. Those dynamics also serve to enforce patriarchal power structures and gender norms, and the most cursory research on them will lead to countless works of literature and film that elaborate on the rampant homophobia in these institutions and their lifelong impact on queer boys and men. Whether or not Rowling was aware of what she was doing, the violent enforcement of patriarchal norms, and the doling out of punishment to anyone who doesn't live up to them, is baked into the dynamic between James and Snape in SWM.

In her own biased view of Snape (as expressed in interviews etc.) Rowling wears on her sleeve her lack of empathy for male victims of patriarchal violence, which isn't surprising when you consider that her own gender politics center not only women, but specific women - women like her. TERFism harms more than just trans women, it also demands that women who don't emulate a specific idea of femininity also take a hit for the sake of gatekeeping trans people out of society, like women who have hormonal imbalances or were born intersex or eschew gender norms in even the most basic way (ie. even the middle aged suburban mother who keeps her hair short and wears jeans and hoodies because she's tired). This kind of thinking twists itself into knots only to reinforce gender norms that serve patriarchal power structures - the same structures that are represented by James when he assaults Snape, whose very character is written to be antithetical to them. Rowling is entrenching these gender norms through her lack of empathy for Snape in both her writing, and the views of him she's expressed publicly, and that perspective directly informs her radicalization and subsequent commitment to the specific kind of bigotry she puts so much money and energy into funding.

In conclusion

Privilege, bigotry, and misplaced abuse trauma inform Rowling's writing throughout the HP books, and coupled with the radicalization she was primed for, are apparent in her current personal politics. Her bigotry is essentially a cop out, however. It's an oversimplified view that focuses on men as a whole and posits them all as inherently violent and oppressive, instead of acknowledging the existence of the anthropological concept of the patriarchy as a social system that disenfranchises anyone who doesn't conform to its standards, including men. This also allows Rowling to dig her heels in on an ideology that ultimately supports patriarchal power structures despite its insistence on being feminist. British feminism is different than American feminism in that it seeks to perpetuate the existing power structure and co-opt it in women's favor, as opposed to seeking social equality. Unsurprising in a country with an ancient class system that relies on everyone accepting their place in it.

The idea of upsetting the power structure isn't acceptable in British culture, and the only tolerated progressive idea is to change who's at the top of it. Rowling's TERFism allows her to absolve herself of sympathy for how this affects trans people, queer people, and even men. To some degree it's understandable for an abuse victim to not have the emotional spoons or simply not have the will to understand their abuser (or someone who represents their abuser in their mind). Extending that to all men indiscriminately is bigoted, judgmental, and upholds patriarchal ideas of men as inherently stronger, more powerful, and predatory (and subtly reinforces the idea of penetrative sex as an act of dominance and violence). It doesn't acknowledge the power dynamics at the core of Western society and instead focuses on vulnerable groups like trans people and anyone who doesn't conform to gender norms in ways that make public life dangerous for anyone who doesn't live up to the established norms. Rowling could choose not to engage with any of this, and in doing so she's also perpetuating cycles of abuse in ways that reflect unprocessed trauma, but do so on a massive scale instead of keeping it in the home.

Patriarchy is violent to men as well as women, but Rowling's bigotry allows her to justify ignoring this. Looking through this lens at how she approached writing the HP books, the choices she made in her approach to characters like Snape or even Harry, we can see the seeds of this mindset and how it was exploited by radicalization - ironic given that everything she wrote into Snape's character indicates he was also a vulnerable, abused youth whose vulnerability was exploited to radicalize him into a fascist cult. In many ways, Snape is the character who Rowling's own experiences are closest to (domestic abuse, radicalization, being bullied), but perhaps she's so judgmental of him because he represents the parts of herself she is still unable to confront.

[phia-myth]

Can you talk more about the world building of your AU?

hi anon! i’d love to! since this au focuses on ancient greek characters i’ll focus on that, but i’ve put some degree of thought into most ancient cultures

so some stuff you may have gathered if you’ve read about my modern au so far is that the oracles are a very real thing people still use. the oracle of delphi is the most popular of course but if you can’t afford/can’t get to that oracle there’s always one that’s not too far from you. thetis’ parents, as i’ve mentioned, goes to the oracle of delphi and receives a prophecy which convinces them to make her marry peleus

greece is also not so much one country. it has a system a lot like the UK where i live — it’s a bunch of countries that have shared laws but have their own delegations and such. i won’t bore you too much with the politics — basically if you look up the UK that’s pretty much how it works. each country is one of the ‘main’ cities you’d think of from ancient greece like athens and sparta, they’ve just absorbed any smaller cities around them to become their own country.

fashion-wise people wear modern clothing we think of today, just with some ancient influences in jewellery and such. fashion we associate with ancient greece is worn more for traditional festivals and events, though it’s mostly women who wear peplos to festivals and religious ceremonies. things like formal wear are often a lot like ancient clothes, but they usually have a modern spin. men might wear a chiton with some legging-like pants for formal wear, but it’s about as common as someone wearing a kilt for formal wear — not unheard of, but not as common as a suit and tie. some might even wear a toga, but it’s pretty uncommon to see that in greece. it’s more of a roman fashion.

the au follows a modern calendar (mostly for my own peace of mind), but they celebrate things like dionysia and thesmophoria. there’s a pretty large atheist population, but they still celebrate the way an atheist might celebrate christmas and easter. religious plays and events are pretty fun and popular, so people don’t want to miss out. if there’s a particular festival you would like me to go into depth for, feel free to ask.

ancient greek pottery is still around. students learn to do it in school to some degree, but it’s mostly used as a wellness thing. it’s not uncommon to have an important event like a wedding commissioned onto vase art as well as a photographer, though it’s mostly richer families that participate in this since it’s pretty expensive. if you really want one an older family member might do one the way your grandparent might knit a jumper for you.

on that note, drinking vessels we see in ancient greece are more like a china, though they’re used quite often for important events. these events usually use plastic versions unless it’s a private event. plastic versions usually depict a popular myth rather than anything personal. but you wouldn’t really see these sorts of things used at a house party if you don’t want to be called a pretentious twat

hospitality is a very important part of their culture still. if new people or people you respect come over you’d usually be expected to wash their feet. if your pal comes over it’s not so much an issue but more traditional people still might offer. if your loved one has a bad day you’d probably offer it too. the same sort of thing applies to gifts. it’s usually something small, like spare change for transportation or a meal, but it would be rude to have a new guest or your boss or something over without giving them a gift. it’s also pretty rude to receive a gift from a guest and not at least offer one back. obviously this can be pretty inconvenient at times, and expensive, so it’s not as common as the foot washing thing. again, more traditional people might still offer at the very least.

i’ve also mentioned this but race and sexuality isn’t a thing. that obviously isn’t to say that nobody is this race or that sexuality. it’s just that there’s not really any terms that label someone for these things. people who don’t fit gender binary are labelled as nonbinary, but titles like trans aren’t a thing either. you transition and that’s that. ethnicity isn’t the same as our version of ethnicity, either. someone might come from a different country, but their child isn’t considered part of their ethnicity if they’re born in that country. say a babylonian immigrated to greece and had a child there with a greek. they wouldn’t be half-greek, half-babylonian - they’d just be a greek. though it’s not uncommon for children to adopt some semblance of their parent’s culture if their parent decides to keep up with their cultural practices. it depends on the parents.

that isn’t to say this is an ultra-woke progressive culture, btw. it’s just that the labels aren’t a thing.

as i’ve mentioned in my helen/menelaus/paris post, women’s rights are a very iffy thing, and it depends largely on where you live. progress is happening to a modern level, but as i’ve mentioned there are some archaic loopholes that can be exploited by the law and a lot of social pressure on women from more traditional communities. these loopholes are usually pretty subtle in things like providing a lighter punishment for any man-on-woman crime, but something more severe could be taken to a higher court and handled pretty swiftly. though something subtle is going to fly under the radar even if you try to take it higher personally.

democracy is the greek’s form of government though each country might have something more traditional in conjunction to that — though they’re usually more of a figurehead or a representative. ostracism is still a thing, too, but it’s usually reserved for politicians or other influential people and the occasional criminal. it’s taken to higher ups to determine if they should be relocated or some other way to solve the issue.

there’s a lot more but if there’s anything in particular you’d like to ask about feel free to ask!

[a-star-is-here]

Guys, pls help with my gofundme, whether it's sharing or donating, I come from a low income household and post secondary is really difficult in general to afford, as well as getting a job in my city as a youth is increasingly difficult. Any amount would make a difference 🙏

[beyoneducation123]

Explore the top reasons to study in Netherlands

International students are increasingly choosing to study in the Netherlands, a tiny but dynamic nation in Western Europe. These are the main justifications for thinking about studying in the Netherlands.

Top-Notch Instruction

Many of the Netherlands' universities routinely rank among the top in the world, attesting to the country's excellent education standards. Numerous programs taught in English are available at universities like Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, and the University of Amsterdam. The Dutch educational system places a strong emphasis on creativity, quality, and hands-on learning to get students ready for prosperous jobs.

Programmes Taught in English

Students from all around the world find the Netherlands to be an appealing option, with over 2,000 programs taught in English. It is simpler for non-Dutch speakers to study and live happily in the Netherlands because there are many English-language courses accessible in fields including engineering, social sciences, and the arts.

Culturally Diverse Setting

The society of the Netherlands is renowned for being open and accepting. Its population is diversified, and students come from all over the world to study in its universities. Your whole educational experience will be enhanced by this multicultural setting, which offers a unique opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Reasonably priced tuition fees

In contrast to other well-liked study-abroad locations like the US and the UK, tuition in the Netherlands is less expensive. Furthermore, considering the excellent standard of living, living expenses in the Netherlands are quite modest. International students can also apply for scholarships and grants, which lessen their financial load even further.

Good Opportunities for Career

Studying in the Netherlands might greatly improve your chances of landing a good job. The nation boasts a robust economy, home to numerous international corporations, providing graduates with plenty of career options. Additionally, Dutch institutions are well-connected to the business community, which offers students beneficial networking and internship opportunities.

Europe's Central Location

The Netherlands is a great place to start a journey because of its central location in Europe. There is a vast public transport network connecting major cities like Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Amsterdam, and other European nations are only a short flight or train trip away.

The Netherlands offers excellent education, a cosmopolitan setting, affordable tuition, promising professional opportunities, and the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, making it an enriching experience for students. Decide to study in the Netherlands next, and start a journey of learning and development on a personal and academic level.

Conclusion

Studying in the Netherlands with Beyon Education offers the possibility of a life-changing and fulfilling educational experience. Beyon Education distinguishes itself as a top option for international students with its dedication to providing top-notch instruction, a variety of programs taught in English, and a welcoming multicultural environment. We know how important it is to have affordable education and promising employment opportunities, and we make sure you have all the tools you need to thrive in school and the workplace with our extensive support services. Furthermore, there are countless options for travel and cultural exploration because of our strategic location in Europe.

We at Beyond Education are committed to your achievement and development as a person. Come grow with us and be a part of a vibrant community that honors quality, diversity, and innovation. Along with providing you with the information and abilities you need for a successful future, your journey with Beyon Education will also create lifelong memories and amazing experiences. Select Beyon Education to start an amazing academic journey in the center of Europe.

[lilyliveredlittlerichboy]

oh man that post that was like "if you can get coffee at 5 different shops within a 5 minute walk but the person making it can't afford to live within 30 minutes of their work, you're not in a city. you're in a glorified theme park" has been living rent free in my head cus this place is you know, capital city yada yada, often the only place in this whole country that people from outside Wales ever see. its prominently featured in tv shows and its got 3 massive stadiums slap bang in the middle of the city and several more concert halls and it is The Place for big name celebs to come if they even remember that Wales exists at all. which means that at least once a week this place becomes a beehive full of people from the valleys and further out in Wales and from across the English border and from the visiting team of whatever sports is being played and the whole city centre becomes basically unusable if you just want to do a quick thing or need to get somewhere. i know plenty of people who work here who don't live near, some who have had to move further out because rents (while comparatively still not that terrible for a uk city) have been going up and up and wages not going up along with it. the streets and trains are filled with commuters from more than 30 minutes away every single morning and evening to the point where you have to plan when and where and how to do your grocery shopping quite carefully. lower income people are being pushed out in favour of gentrification and several universities mean that a lot of the people who live here are students, a lot of which are English or from abroad, which really dilutes the Welshness of the city. Large parts of it are just a glorified playground for higher income people, often English people. There are many tourist attractions right in the middle of the city and like listen I fucking adore this place and I don't mind tourists but I wish it was built more for the people that actually live here, rather than people who come here temporarily. By all means invite the people who come here temporarily to stay. I know many people who came as students, loved the city and ended up staying. I'm one of them. Migration is great and putting your roots somewhere where you're not from is also great. Just the endless pandering to foreign investors and students and sportsball tourists. I'm tired

[stepseduworld]

Studying in the UK Dream: Decoding Costs, Scholarships, and Student Life

Are you considering the thrilling prospect of Studying in the UK? If so, buckle up for a journey that promises to enrich not only your academic prowess but also your personal growth. The UK beckons with its flexible academic structure, global recognition, and a vibrant student community hailing from every corner of the globe. Imagine a dynamic environment where you can share your unique background while exploring fresh perspectives and ideas. In essence, studying in the UK isn't just about boosting your resume; it's about nurturing your growth as a well-rounded individual.

Decoding Tuition Fees: Affordable Options and Top-Tier Dreams

Now, let's delve into the nitty-gritty of tuition fees. For those seeking affordable options, consider universities like the University of Brighton (£14,770), Nottingham Trent University (£15,300), City University of London (£16,750), and Queen Mary University of London (£16,750). Dreaming of the academic giants? The University of Cambridge (£21,411 – £29,769), University of Oxford (£9,391 – £30,540), Warwick University (£24,630), University College London (UCL) (£17,710 – £24,610), Imperial College, London (£27,750 – £29,750), University of York (£33,016), and Loughborough University (£25,500) await. It's not just education; it's an investment in your future.

Scholarship Safari: Funding Your Academic Odyssey

Worried about the financial crunch? Fear not! The UK generously offers a plethora of scholarships from government bodies, universities, independent organizations, and charitable foundations. While master's programs often have more opportunities, exceptional undergraduates can still find their golden ticket. Dive into the official websites of your chosen university and explore scholarships in your home country. Think British Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme at UK Universities, and Marshall Scholarships. Keep an eye on university-specific scholarships from Cambridge, Warwick, Bristol, York, and Loughborough—competitive but oh-so-rewarding.

Cracking the Code: Cost of Living in the UK

Let's talk numbers – the cost of living in the UK is a crucial puzzle piece in your academic adventure. From accommodation to food and transportation, your budget needs to stretch. London, the crown jewel, is the most expensive, but don't worry; we've got figures. According to UKCISA, international students can expect to spend an average of £12,180 per year on living expenses. Dining out? It might pinch your wallet with an average meal at a mid-range restaurant setting you back around £15. But fear not, savvy students, cooking at home is your budget-friendly ally.

Embark on your UK study adventure, armed with knowledge, scholarships, and a keen eye on your budget. Your academic odyssey awaits!

[360degreesasthecrowflies]

And this applies across a number of institutions.

Looking at generic middle of the road journalism in the UK for example; when the barrier of entry to work at a prestigious firm is:

you need at least one and possibly two university degrees

you need to at least start your working career based in London, because that's where all the agencies and employers are

the beginning of your career will require you to 'work' as an unpaid intern while shadowing senior reporters, which in practice means:

aged 20 or 21 you need to be able to afford to live in London, the most expensive location in the UK, while 'doing an unpaid internship' which essentially means using your 9-5 to volunteer 40 hours a week, which means:

you need to somehow have a source of income to support yourself while doing this, while also paying off your student debt, while paying for travel, food, and wherever you are living as a bare minimum.

Now, for the average smart, well-educated and star student who may well have secured an undergraduate and postgraduate degree and may be at the top of their class or the best student in their university, unless they have the mental capacity to while working a 9-5 job for free, also hold down a second full-time job to allow them to afford to pay their bills in order to live and work in the most expensive city in the country, they're essentially locked out of the profession unless they don't need to work that second job because they're already independently wealthy or have family income to rely on.

Any graduate with dependents or caring responsibilities is locked out. Any graduate that isn't based in London - which 80% of the population of the country aren't, is locked out, unless they can manage to get in on a diversity programme or some kind of outreach programme which are few and far between.

Meanwhile, which graduates can afford to do these? Just the ones with inherited family wealth. And the industry relies on there being a steady stream of these unpaid interns coming through. So if Sarah, top of her class, straight A student, who doesn't have family wealth can't afford to apply, and if Jonah, middle of his class, did quite well, but can't afford to live in London, and Kareem, a mature student who can afford to live in London and has managed to get a job that is evenings only, but has caring responsibilities and so can't guarantee he can volunteer 9-5 every weekday - aren't able to take up those positions, but a student like Tilly, 21, whose wealthy parents paid her way into university, paid for her to have private tutors, and can afford to pay her bills while she lives in London and works her unpaid internship, can, no matter how well-suited she actually is to the role and no matter how she did in her degree and work roles to date.

And from Tilly's perspective, and all the people similar to her that she ends up working alongside as part of the unpaid internship programme? Well, since they're all from the same background, as are most of their seniors and leaders, and because they don't have the perspective to question this - they'll likely assume that nobody else from another background applied for the role or was successful in getting the role due to some kind of personal failing that the Tillies of the world were uniquely able to overcome.

And this kind of bias will subtly seep through into their reporting and into their work - even more so if they weren't the most skilled and critically minded students in the first place.

The process as it exists is whether by design or accident excluding those students and candidates that would in fact have the best perspective to bring to the job, as people who already excelled despite adversity or had to make sacrifices in order to try and reach a standard clumsily set by a government without the perspective on what a built-up challenge that might actually end up being.

the thing about propaganda is that it doesn't require a bunch of people to sit around rubbing their hands together going "muahaha we will deceive the masses with our evil propaganda!" and in fact it tends to be better and more convincing the more people involved don't conceptualize what they're doing as in any way propagandistic

[pratiksha-more]

Top Reasons to Choose the UK for Higher Education

The United Kingdom has long been a preferred destination for international students seeking quality education, global exposure, and career opportunities. With a strong academic reputation, diverse culture, and numerous benefits, the UK remains a top choice for students worldwide. If you're wondering why UK is the right place for your higher education, here are some compelling reasons.

1. World-Class Universities and Academic Excellence

The UK is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London. These institutions consistently rank among the best globally, offering high-quality education and cutting-edge research opportunities. Why study in UK? The rigorous academic standards and innovative teaching methods ensure students receive top-notch education that is recognized worldwide.

2. Wide Range of Courses and Specializations

UK universities offer a diverse array of programs across various disciplines, from arts and humanities to engineering and medicine. Whether you are looking for an undergraduate, postgraduate, or research degree, you will find numerous options tailored to your career aspirations.

3. Shorter Course Duration

One of the major advantages of studying in the UK is the shorter course duration. Undergraduate degrees typically take three years, while master’s programs can be completed in just one year. This allows students to save on tuition fees and living expenses while entering the job market sooner.

4. Post-Study Work Opportunities

The UK government offers a Graduate Route, allowing international students to stay and work in the country for up to two years after completing their degree (three years for PhD graduates). This is a significant advantage for students looking to gain international work experience and enhance their career prospects.

5. Multicultural Environment

The UK is a melting pot of cultures, welcoming students from all over the world. Studying in such a diverse environment helps students develop global perspectives, cross-cultural communication skills, and lifelong friendships.

6. Strong Industry Connections and Internship Opportunities

UK universities have strong links with industries, offering students ample opportunities for internships, placements, and networking. Many universities collaborate with leading companies, ensuring students gain practical experience that enhances their employability.

7. Financial Support and Scholarships

A wide range of scholarships, grants, and financial aid options are available for international students in the UK. Many universities and government bodies offer merit-based and need-based scholarships, making education more accessible and affordable.

8. High Quality of Life

The UK provides a high standard of living, with excellent healthcare, public transport, and student support services. Cities like London, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham offer vibrant student life, rich cultural experiences, and world-class facilities.

9. English Language Advantage

Studying in an English-speaking country enhances language skills, making graduates more competitive in the global job market. UK universities also offer English language support programs to help international students improve their proficiency.

10. Gateway to Europe

The UK’s geographical location makes it an ideal base for traveling across Europe. With affordable flights and train options, students can explore different cultures and destinations during their study breaks.

Conclusion

Choosing the UK for higher education comes with numerous advantages, from world-class academics to promising career prospects. Whether you’re drawn to the renowned universities, diverse culture, or excellent post-study work opportunities, the UK is a top destination for students worldwide. If you're still wondering why UK, now you have plenty of reasons to make it your study abroad destination.

[the-proeducator-blog]

Affordable UK Cities for International Students: Study Without Breaking the Bank

For international students, studying in the UK is a dream that often comes with concerns about expenses. While cities like London and Manchester are well-known for their prestige, they can also be costly. Luckily, there are budget-friendly alternatives that offer quality education, a vibrant student life, and affordable living expenses. If you're looking for the best cities in UK for international students, this guide will help you explore affordable yet enriching options.

Want to learn more about cost-effective cities for international students? Check out this detailed guide: Best cities in UK for international students.

Affordable UK Cities for International Students

Studying in the UK doesn’t have to empty your wallet. Several cities offer excellent universities, lower accommodation costs, and an overall affordable lifestyle, making them perfect for international students on a budget. Cities like Nottingham, Coventry, and Cardiff are prime examples of balancing quality education with reasonable living expenses.

Here’s why these cities stand out and how they cater to international students looking for a cost-effective study destination.

Nottingham – A Perfect Blend of Affordability and Vibrance

Known as the "Queen of the Midlands," Nottingham is a dynamic and student-friendly city that combines affordability with a lively social scene.

Cost of Living: Nottingham boasts some of the lowest rent prices in the UK, with shared accommodations costing around £400–£500 per month. Food, transportation, and entertainment are also highly affordable compared to other major cities.

Universities: The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are both internationally recognized for their high academic standards and research facilities.

Student Life: With its vibrant nightlife, cozy cafes, and the iconic Old Market Square, Nottingham offers a great mix of cultural and recreational activities.

Tips for Students: Use the student discount card to save on public transport and shopping.

Recommended Pictures: Add images of the University of Nottingham campus, Nottingham Castle, or students enjoying the Old Market Square.

Coventry – Affordable Living in a Historic City

Coventry, a city rich in history, has rapidly evolved into a modern and affordable hub for students.

Cost of Living: Coventry is among the best cities in UK for international students due to its low accommodation costs, which range from £350–£450 per month for shared housing. Groceries and utilities are also budget-friendly.

Universities: Coventry University and the University of Warwick are two prominent institutions offering world-class education.

Student Life: Students in Coventry enjoy a mix of history and modernity, from exploring medieval sites to attending contemporary music festivals.

Career Opportunities: Coventry is well-connected to Birmingham and London, making it a great base for part-time work and internships.

Recommended Pictures: Include visuals of Coventry University’s modern architecture, the medieval Coventry Cathedral, and local student events.

Cardiff – The Capital of Affordable Education

The vibrant capital of Wales, Cardiff, is one of the most affordable cities in the UK for international students, offering a unique mix of quality education and low living costs.

Cost of Living: Accommodation in Cardiff is among the cheapest in the UK, with average rents starting from £300–£400 per month. Public transport and daily expenses are also budget-friendly, making it an ideal choice for students on a tight budget.

Universities: Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University are top institutions offering a range of courses and excellent support for international students.

Student Life: Cardiff’s thriving arts scene, waterfront entertainment at Cardiff Bay, and vibrant sports culture ensure there’s never a dull moment.

Tips for Students: Many attractions, like Cardiff Castle, offer free or discounted entry for students.

Recommended Pictures: Show Cardiff University’s main building, scenic shots of Cardiff Bay, and students exploring the city center.

Why These Cities Are Perfect for Budget-Conscious Students

Aside from affordability, Nottingham, Coventry, and Cardiff offer a high quality of life, excellent support systems for international students, and a welcoming community. Here’s what makes them stand out:

Support for International Students: These cities have dedicated international student offices, cultural societies, and events to help students adjust to life in the UK.

Part-Time Work Opportunities: Each city offers numerous part-time job options for students, from retail to tutoring.

Affordable Entertainment: Whether it’s exploring local landmarks, attending free festivals, or enjoying student discounts at restaurants, these cities offer plenty of budget-friendly activities.

Money-Saving Tips for Students

Even in budget-friendly cities, students should plan their finances carefully. Here are some tips:

Opt for student accommodations provided by universities, as they are often cheaper and closer to campus.

Cook your meals instead of eating out. Local supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl, and Tesco are great for affordable groceries.

Use student discounts for public transport, shopping, and entertainment.

Share expenses with housemates, including utilities and internet bills.

Open a UK student bank account to avoid hefty international transaction fees.

Conclusion: Study Smart Without Overspending

Studying in the UK doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your finances. Cities like Nottingham, Coventry, and Cardiff prove that you can receive a world-class education while living affordably. With low accommodation costs, student-friendly services, and a vibrant community, these cities are perfect for international students looking to make the most of their UK experience without breaking the bank.

If you’re still exploring your options, check out this comprehensive guide to the best cities in UK for international students: Best cities in UK for international students.

Choosing the right city can make a world of difference to your study experience. So why not pick a destination that lets you focus on your studies while keeping your budget intact?

[irenicinternational]

Immigration agency in Zirakpur

Introduction

In today’s globalized world, international travel, work, and study opportunities are more accessible than ever. However, navigating the complex immigration process can be challenging. This is where an immigration agency in Zirakpur comes into play. Located in the heart of Punjab, Zirakpur has emerged as a hub for immigration consultancy, assisting individuals in fulfilling their dreams of settling abroad. Whether you are looking for a student visa, work permit, permanent residency, or tourist visa, a professional immigration agency can streamline the entire process.

Why Choose an Immigration Agency in Zirakpur?

Zirakpur is home to several reputed immigration agencies that provide expert guidance and services tailored to individual needs. Here are a few reasons why opting for an immigration agency in this region is a wise decision:

Expert Knowledge and Experience: Immigration agencies in Zirakpur are equipped with certified professionals who have in-depth knowledge of visa policies and immigration laws.

Personalized Consultation: These agencies assess individual profiles and provide customized solutions based on eligibility and country-specific requirements.

End-to-End Assistance: From document preparation to visa filing and interview coaching, immigration agencies offer comprehensive support.

High Visa Success Rate: Professional agencies have a track record of successful visa applications, ensuring clients have higher chances of approval.

Affordable Services: Compared to larger metropolitan cities, immigration services in Zirakpur are cost-effective without compromising on quality.

Services Offered by Us

An Immigration Company provides a range of visa and immigration-related services to individuals and businesses. Some of the key services include:

Study Visa Assistance – Guidance for students seeking admission to international universities, including documentation and visa application support.

Tourist & Visitor Visas – Assistance with short-term travel visas for vacations, family visits, or business trips.

Permanent Residency (PR) Applications – Helping clients secure PR in countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Spouse & Dependent Visas – Support for family reunification visas.

How to Choose the Best Immigration Agency in Zirakpur?

With numerous immigration agencies available, selecting the right one can be daunting. Here are some key factors to consider:

Check the Credentials: Ensure the agency is registered and has certified immigration consultants.

Client Reviews and Testimonials: Look for online reviews, ratings, and client testimonials to assess reliability.

Transparency in Process and Fees: A good agency will provide clear information on visa processes, timelines, and service charges.

Success Rate: Inquire about the agency’s visa approval rates and past client experiences.

Range of Services: Opt for an agency that provides multiple visa services under one roof.

Common Challenges in the Immigration Process and How Agencies Help

The immigration journey is often filled with challenges. Here’s how a professional immigration agency in Zirakpur can help overcome them:

Document Verification Issues: Agencies ensure all documents are accurate, reducing chances of visa rejection.

Strict Visa Policies: Experts stay updated on the latest immigration laws to provide the best solutions.

Financial Requirements: Agencies guide applicants on financial documentation and fund management.

Lengthy Processing Times: They track application status and follow up with authorities for timely processing.

Visa Rejections and Appeals: If a visa is denied, agencies help with reapplication or appeal processes.

Conclusion

A reliable immigration agency in Zirakpur can make your journey to a foreign land smooth and hassle-free. With expert consultation, professional guidance, and end-to-end support, these agencies help individuals achieve their dreams of studying, working, and settling abroad. Whether you are a student, skilled worker, or traveler, choosing the right immigration consultant in Zirakpur can be your first step toward a successful future overseas.

If you are planning to migrate, study, or work abroad, consulting a reputable immigration agency in Zirakpur can provide you with the best guidance and increase your chances of a successful visa approval. With their expertise and knowledge, you can confidently navigate the complexities of the immigration process and turn your aspirations into reality.

[rmceliteservice]

How affordable is studying in France compared to other European countries?

Studying abroad is an exciting opportunity that many students dream of, and France, known for its world-class education system, rich culture, and beautiful landscapes, is a popular choice. However, one important factor to consider when deciding where to study is the cost of living and tuition fees. In comparison to other European countries, studying in France can be quite affordable, especially when considering the high quality of education offered. Here, we’ll explore the affordability of studying in France in comparison to other European nations.

1. Tuition Fees in France

One of the major factors that make France an attractive destination for international students is the relatively low cost of tuition fees, particularly for public universities in France offers both public and private institutions, with a significant difference in the fees charged.

Public Universities: The French government subsidizes public universities, making them more affordable for both domestic and international students. For undergraduate programs, international students typically pay between €2,770 and €3,770 per year for non-EU students. For postgraduate programs, the fees are higher, typically ranging from €3,770 to €4,770 per year, depending on the program. This is relatively low compared to other countries like the USA or the UK, where tuition fees can be significantly higher.

Private Universities and Grandes Écoles: Private institutions, such as business schools and the prestigious “Grandes Écoles,” charge higher tuition fees. These fees can range from €6,000 to €20,000 per year, depending on the program and institution. However, even at the higher end, the fees in France are still competitive compared to private universities in other European countries.

2. Cost of Living in France

While tuition fees in Study in France are relatively low, the cost of living can vary significantly depending on the city in which you study. Major cities like Paris, Lyon, and Nice tend to be more expensive than smaller cities or rural areas.

Paris: Paris is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Rent can be as high as €1,000-€1,500 per month for a small apartment in the city center, while student accommodation may cost around €600-€900 per month. However, there are affordable options for students in the form of university-run dormitories, where rent is often subsidized.

Other Cities: In other French cities such as Lille, Bordeaux, or Toulouse, the cost of living is much lower. Rent can range from €400 to €800 per month, and grocery prices and transport costs are also more affordable. On average, students spend around €800-€1,200 per month on living expenses, including rent, food, transport, and entertainment.

3. Scholarships and Financial Aid

France offers a range of scholarships and financial aid opportunities for international students. The French government, as well as various private organizations, provide funding for students based on academic merit, financial need, or nationality. Some notable scholarships include:

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program: This prestigious scholarship is offered to international students pursuing master’s and doctoral programs. It covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.

Charpak Scholarship: Specifically for Indian students, this scholarship offers financial support to those pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate programs in France.

Many universities also offer their own scholarships to attract international students. These financial aid options make studying in France even more affordable, especially when compared to countries where scholarships are less common or more competitive.

4. Comparing with Other European Countries

When compared to other popular European study destinations, France stands out for its affordability, particularly in terms of tuition fees:

United Kingdom: Tuition fees in the UK are considerably higher, especially for non-EU international students. Fees for undergraduate programs range from £10,000 to £38,000 per year, and postgraduate fees can go even higher. Additionally, the cost of living in cities like London can be exorbitant.

Germany: Germany is known for offering free or very low-cost tuition at public universities, even for international students. However, the cost of living in cities like Munich and Berlin can be quite high, with average expenses around €800-€1,200 per month.

Spain and Italy: Both Spain and Italy are relatively affordable compared to the UK, with tuition fees for public universities ranging from €1,000 to €3,500 per year. Living costs in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome can be comparable to France, depending on the location.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, France offers a highly affordable education compared to other European countries, especially when it comes to tuition fees at public universities. While the cost of living in major cities like Paris can be high, students can manage expenses by opting for cheaper cities and taking advantage of financial aid and scholarships. Overall, France provides an excellent balance of quality education and affordability, making it a top choice for international students looking for an enriching academic experience in Europe.

[samidhasaneblogs]

Study Abroad in UK: How to Make the Most of Your Time

Studying abroad in the UK is an experience that can change your life. The academic prestige, the rich history, and the multicultural environment make it an attractive destination for students worldwide. But making the most of your time in the UK requires more than just attending lectures and writing essays. It’s about embracing new experiences, making meaningful connections, and developing both academically and personally.

In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know to maximize your study abroad in the UK—from preparation and settling in, to building a rewarding academic and social life, to making the most of your personal growth.

I. Preparing for Your Study Abroad Journey

1. Choosing the Right University and Program

When it comes to studying abroad in the UK, choosing the right university and program is your first big decision. The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world, but each institution has its own unique strengths and characteristics.

You’ll want to start by researching universities that align with your academic and personal interests. The Russell Group, for instance, represents 24 top universities known for their research excellence and academic rigor. However, non-Russell Group universities are also known for offering specialized programs and tight-knit communities. It’s important to consider the location, the course offerings, and whether the university has the resources you need to thrive. Look at campus facilities, student support services, and the types of extracurricular activities available.

Additionally, think about your personal preferences. Do you prefer studying in a vibrant city like London or Edinburgh, or would you enjoy a quieter setting like Durham or St. Andrews?

2. Visa and Immigration Process

One of the first practical steps in your journey is applying for a student visa. The UK operates under a Tier 4 (General) student visa, which allows international students to stay in the country while they study.

To apply for this visa, you’ll need a confirmed place at a university, proof of sufficient financial support for both tuition fees and living costs, and other supporting documents such as academic qualifications and a valid passport. The application process can take several weeks, so be sure to apply well in advance.

While the process can seem intimidating at first, it’s straightforward if you stay organized. Be sure to keep track of deadlines and get familiar with the requirements so that there are no surprises along the way.

3. Financing Your Studies

The UK can be an expensive place to live, but with the right planning, you can manage the cost effectively. Tuition fees can range from £10,000 to £30,000 a year, depending on your program and university. Living costs vary by city, with places like London being notably more expensive than cities like Manchester or Edinburgh.

There are several ways to finance your study abroad experience. Start by exploring scholarships and grants specifically for international students. Many universities offer financial aid, so be sure to check with your institution’s international office.

In addition, consider opening a student bank account in the UK for easier management of your finances. Budgeting is crucial, and it’s helpful to track your expenses, plan for unexpected costs, and take advantage of student discounts on transportation, food, and other essentials.

4. Accommodation Options

Finding a place to live is another critical aspect of preparing for your time in the UK. On-campus accommodation is a popular choice for first-year students, as it provides an easy way to settle into university life. However, off-campus housing is also available, often at a more affordable rate.

If you choose off-campus housing, make sure to research the neighborhood carefully and understand the tenancy agreements. The rental process in the UK might be different from what you’re used to, so it’s essential to know your rights as a tenant.

II. Settling In: The First Few Weeks

1. Orientation and Induction

Your first few weeks in the UK are an exciting whirlwind of new experiences. Most universities offer orientation programs to help international students settle in. These programs typically include campus tours, social events, and useful workshops on everything from academics to healthcare.

Don’t skip these orientations—they’ll give you the chance to meet fellow students, explore your new campus, and learn more about the university’s resources. Getting involved early will help you feel more at home and connected.

2. Adapting to the UK Culture

The UK’s culture may be different from what you’re used to, and it’s normal to experience culture shock. One of the first things you’ll notice is the weather! Be prepared for rain and chilly temperatures, especially if you’re in the north.

British social norms are another thing to get used to. British people tend to be reserved at first, but they’re friendly once you get to know them. Understanding local etiquette—like queuing (standing in line), being polite in conversation, and embracing the famous British humor—will help you fit in.

Homesickness is also a common challenge for international students. Make sure to stay in touch with your family and friends back home, but also make an effort to create a support network in the UK. Join student clubs, attend social events, and reach out to others who are also far from home.

3. Student Health and Well-being

Maintaining your physical and mental health is crucial during your time abroad. In the UK, healthcare is available through the National Health Service (NHS), but you must register with a local GP (General Practitioner) once you arrive.

It’s also important to take care of your mental health. The transition to studying in a new country can be challenging, and universities offer support services, such as counseling, workshops, and peer support groups, to help you cope. Additionally, getting regular exercise and eating a balanced diet can significantly boost your mood and energy levels.

III. Making the Most of Your Academic Experience

1. Understanding the UK Education System

The UK education system might differ from what you’re used to, especially in terms of assessment and course structure. Classes in the UK tend to emphasize independent study and critical thinking, rather than rote memorization. Your professors will expect you to be proactive, conduct research, and engage in discussions.

Grading in the UK can also be different. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the grading scale and the types of assessments you’ll face—such as essays, exams, and presentations.

2. Engaging with Professors and Tutors

Building relationships with your professors is essential for academic success. Professors in the UK often hold office hours where you can meet with them to discuss assignments, clarify concepts, and get feedback on your work.

Be proactive in seeking help when needed. They’re there to support your academic journey, and establishing these relationships can open doors for future opportunities, like research projects or recommendations.

3. Developing Academic and Professional Skills

Studying in the UK offers opportunities to develop skills that will serve you in your career. The UK education system places a strong emphasis on independent learning, so you’ll improve your time-management and research abilities. Writing essays and learning how to reference correctly will also be valuable skills to have in the professional world.

Additionally, many UK universities offer career services and internship opportunities that allow you to gain practical experience while you study. Make sure to take advantage of these resources—they can help shape your career path.

IV. Exploring Beyond the Classroom

1. Making Friends and Building a Social Life

Your social life in the UK will be just as important as your academic experience. Joining clubs and societies is a great way to meet people who share your interests, whether that’s sports, arts, volunteering, or politics.

Socializing is also a huge part of British life. Students often meet up for pub nights, attend society events, or enjoy weekend outings to explore local attractions. Be open to new experiences and try to make lasting friendships.

2. Traveling Around the UK

The UK is a fantastic place to explore, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to travel during breaks or weekends. London, of course, is a must-see, with iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and the British Museum. But don’t overlook other areas like Edinburgh, Oxford, or the Lake District. Each part of the UK has its own unique charm.

3. Experiencing British Culture and Traditions

The UK is rich in culture, and you’ll have the chance to experience it in many ways. Attend a West End show in London, explore historic castles, or enjoy a traditional afternoon tea. Be sure to immerse yourself in local festivals and events, which celebrate everything from music and art to food and literature.

V. Career and Personal Growth During Your Study Abroad

1. Building Your Resume and Networking

Studying abroad in the UK can make your resume stand out. It shows that you’re adaptable, independent, and able to thrive in a global environment. You’ll also have access to networking opportunities with alumni, professors, and industry leaders.

Take advantage of career fairs and networking events offered by your university. These connections can lead to internships, job opportunities, and professional collaborations.

2. Part-time Work and Volunteering

Working part-time while studying is a great way to support yourself financially and gain practical experience. International students in the UK are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time. Many students also choose to volunteer, which can help build your resume and connect you to local communities.

3. Personal Growth and Self-Discovery

One of the biggest benefits of studying abroad is the personal growth you’ll experience. You’ll become more independent, resilient, and globally aware. The challenges you face will help you develop problem-solving skills and a sense of confidence that will serve you long after your studies are over.

VI. Returning Home: Making the Most of Your Experience

1. Re-entry Challenges and Reverse Culture Shock

Returning home after your time abroad can be just as challenging as leaving. You may experience reverse culture shock, where you find it hard to adjust to life back home. Keep in touch with the friends you made abroad, and try to stay engaged with the international community.

2. Leveraging Your Study Abroad Experience for Career Advancement

Don’t underestimate the value of your study abroad experience. The skills you developed—cross-cultural communication, independent thinking, and problem-solving—are highly sought after by employers worldwide.

3. Staying Connected: Alumni Networks and Opportunities

Stay connected with your university’s alumni network. This can provide valuable career resources, opportunities for further study, and a way to stay engaged with your academic community.

Studying abroad in the UK is more than just an academic adventure; it’s a journey of personal growth, cultural exploration, and professional development. By following these tips and embracing everything the UK has to offer, you’ll make the most of your time studying abroad.

Also Read: Professional Insight on Changing Career

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FAQs

How much does it cost to study abroad in the UK? The cost varies depending on the university and location. Tuition fees typically range from £10,000 to £30,000 per year, and living costs depend on the city. London is the most expensive, while cities like Manchester or Leeds offer more affordable options.

How do I get a student visa for the UK? You’ll need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa. Ensure that you have an offer from a UK university, proof of funds, and other required documentation. Apply early to avoid delays.

Can I work while studying in the UK? Yes, international students can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during breaks. This can help with finances and gain work experience.

What are the accommodation options for international students? You can opt for on-campus housing, which is convenient but may be more expensive. Alternatively, you can look for off-campus housing, either shared accommodation or private rentals.

What should I do if I feel homesick? Stay connected with family and friends back home, but also try to make new connections in the UK. Join clubs or societies and reach out to student support services for help.

How can I improve my academic performance in the UK? Engage with professors, attend all lectures, and seek academic support when needed. Make use of university resources like libraries and writing centers.

Can I travel while studying in the UK? Absolutely! The UK is well-connected, and there are plenty of travel options. You can explore historical sites, scenic areas, and vibrant cities.

Are there any scholarships for international students in the UK? Yes, many UK universities offer scholarships for international students. Check with your university for opportunities, and explore government-funded scholarships.

How can I get involved in extracurricular activities? Join clubs and societies at your university, attend social events, and volunteer in your community to build your social network and enhance your university experience.

What should I do when I return home after studying abroad? Reflect on your experiences and how they’ve shaped you. Stay connected with friends from abroad, and leverage your study abroad experience when applying for jobs.

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MBBS in Romania: An Ideal Destination for Indian Students

Dear Visitors, welcome to our blog!

This page serves as a guide to MBBS in Romania.

Follow the table featuring some top medical universities in Romania appropriate for Indian students

Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Location: Bucharest

Program Offered: MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy

Language of Instruction: English, Romanian

Duration: 6 years (MBBS)

Tuition Fee (Approx.): €7,500 per year

Recognition: WHO, MCI, ECFMG

University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca

Location: Cluj-Napoca

Program Offered: MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy

Language of Instruction: English, Romanian

Duration: 6 years (MBBS)

Tuition Fee (Approx.): €6,000 - €7,500 per year

Recognition: WHO, MCI, ECFMG

Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Location: Iași

Program Offered: MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy

Language of Instruction: English, Romanian

Duration: 6 years (MBBS)

Tuition Fee (Approx.): €5,000 - €7,500 per year

Recognition: WHO, MCI, ECFMG

University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu Mureș

Location: Târgu Mureș

Program Offered: MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy

Language of Instruction: English, Romanian

Duration: 6 years (MBBS)

Tuition Fee (Approx.): €6,000 - €7,000 per year

Recognition: WHO, MCI, ECFMG

Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Location: Timișoara

Program Offered: MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy

Language of Instruction: English, Romanian

Duration: 6 years (MBBS)

Tuition Fee (Approx.): €6,000 per year

Recognition: WHO, MCI, ECFMG

MBBS in Romania VS MBBS in India

Course Duration

MBBS in Romania: 6 years (including 1-year internship)

MBBS in India: 5.5 years (including 1-year internship)

Medium of Instruction

MBBS in Romania: Primarily English for international students

MBBS in India: Primarily English, with some local languages

Cost of Education

MBBS in Romania: Moderate; usually lower than Western countries

MBBS in India: Varies widely; government colleges are affordable, private colleges are costly

Living Expenses

MBBS in Romania: Moderate

MBBS in India: Moderate to High depending on city

Entrance Exam Requirement

MBBS in Romania: NEET or university entrance exam

MBBS in India: NEET

Recognition

MBBS in Romania: Recognized by WHO, ECFMG, NMC

MBBS in India: Recognized by WHO, NMC

Post-Graduation Options

MBBS in Romania: Eligible for PG programs in EU, UK, and more

MBBS in India: Eligible for PG programs in India, some need additional exams abroad

Internship

MBBS in Romania: Included within the 6-year program

MBBS in India: 1 year mandatory in India after 4.5 years of study

Infrastructure

MBBS in Romania: Generally modern with good facilities

MBBS in India: Varies; government colleges have strong infrastructure, private may vary

Cultural Exposure

MBBS in Romania: Multicultural; attracts students from many countries

MBBS in India: Familiar environment for Indian students

Language Requirement

MBBS in Romania: Basic knowledge of Romanian may be helpful but not required for English-taught programs

MBBS in India: No language barrier for Indian students

Visa Requirement

MBBS in Romania: Yes (student visa)

MBBS in India: Not required

Career Opportunities

MBBS in Romania: Can practice in Romania, EU countries, or India after passing NMC's FMGE exam

MBBS in India: Can practice in India directly

Quality of Education

MBBS in Romania: High, with European standards

MBBS in India: High; varies between government and private institutions

Romania has several excellent universities. Medical education in Romania has a high educational standard. Students in Romanian colleges can pick from a number of medical courses. Romania has lower tuition costs than other countries. Candidates can find all of the resources they need for their MBBS studies here. The lovely weather seldom makes the students miss home. Accommodation will be provided for the students. There are several opportunities for MBBS candidates to obtain international exposure in this area. Many Romanian universities form international partnerships with other institutions. They have shortened their admissions procedure for the candidates' benefit. English is the medium of instruction for MBBS students in Romania. The NMC and WHO have recognised all Romanian universities. Students will be offered a variety of speciality possibilities. There is a possibility to learn new languages. The high-quality educational framework enables students to gain extensive medical knowledge. Candidates will get the option to take MD classes in Romania.

MBBS in Romania: At a Glance

Basic Eligibility: 70% in PCB

Medium of Teaching: English

NEET Exam: Mandatory

IELTS & TOEFL: Required

Minimum Course Fee: €5,000 per year

Maximum Course Fee: €6,000 per year

Universities Recognition: NMC & WHO Approved

Living Cost: €3,000 to €4,000 per month

Course Duration: 6 years (including 1-year internship)

What Motivates for MBBS in Romania

·         Romania boasts a number of prestigious universities.

·         The level of education is high. Medical Education in Romania

·         The Romanian universities provide a variety of medical courses to students.

·         Romania has lower tuition fees than other countries.

·         Candidates can acquire all of the amenities they need for their MBBS studies here.

·         The pleasant weather conditions seldom make the pupils feel homesick.

·         Students will be offered the accommodation facilities.

·         There are several of options for MBBS candidates to gain worldwide exposure.

·         Many Romanian universities engage in international partnership with others.

·         They streamlined their admission process for the advantage of the candidates.

·         The medium of instruction for MBBS studies in Romania is English.

For more information about MBBS in Romania contact us!